Are you Square?

By: Tim Coles

Posted: Mon 10:22 AM, Oct 24, 2011

By: Tim Coles

If you are into technology like I am then I am sure you have been asked this question before. Don’t worry this post isn’t about you or me it is about simplifying an old technology. I am a sucker for simplicity and I have found the easiest way to take credit cards via my iPhone or iPad. I have started businesses and have had to set up credit card processing before. Trust me if you haven’t had to go through this nightmare avoid it like the plague. I believe it is easier to take over a small country than to setup credit card processing through a bank. That was until I found Squareup.com (http://www.squareup.com).

If you are into technology like I am then I am sure you have been asked this question before.Don’t worry this post isn’t about you or me it is about simplifying an old technology.I am a sucker for simplicity and I have found the easiest way to take credit cards via my iPhone or iPad.I have started businesses and have had to set up credit card processing before.Trust me if you haven’t had to go through this nightmare avoid it like the plague.I believe it is easier to take over a small country than to setup credit card processing through a bank.That was until I found Squareup.com (http://www.squareup.com).

I was looking for a way to take credit cards at our high school reunion for people who had not pre-purchased tickets to the event.I found Squareup and the rest is history, did I tell you that I am sucker for simplicity.Step one, sign up(username, password, address, bank routing number and account number).Step two, wait for your card reader to show up(arrived in three days).The reader is a cute little device that plugs into the headset plug on your phone or tablet.Step three, download the app for your smartphone(Apple or Android) and or your iPad.Step four, start taking credit cards.

Step five, money is deposited into your account the next day.

Squareup was intuitive in that they allow you to set up reoccurring amounts/transactions.The app’s are easy to use and understand.Simple, Simple, Simple; step one, put in the amount.Step two, description of what you’re charging (i.e. High School Reunion).You can even take a photo of an item; this would be great for yard sales.Step three, slide the credit card.Step four, have the person use their finger to sign.Step five, email or text a receipt to the person who just used their credit card.If you do any transactions at school events, yard sales, sporting events, conventions or your friend owes you money but doesn’t have cash on hand, Squareup is the device for you.What if you own a small business and you have multiple employees out servicing clients.You can have one account and multiple apps/devices feeding into that account.The possibilities are limitless.

I don’t know about you but I don’t even know where my checks are in my house.I rarely use checks and I believe my wife moves them around just to mess with me.The cost of doing business through Squareup is 2.75% of any transaction.For my class reunion we charged $45 and the processing fee was $1.24.How does that compare to using a traditional credit card services?You would have saved about $0.30 per transaction.If you do a lot of credit card transactions then Squareup may not be for you.But if you need to do credit card transactions on a limited basis and you don’t want to mess with going through a bank then you are in luck.Check them out you will like what you see.

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